Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy: The Impact of the Special Period

369 Pages·2006·1.517 MB·English

by  H. Michael Erisman, John M. Kirk

Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy
The Impact of the “Special Period”
Edited by
H. Michael Erisman and John M. Kirk
university press of florida
Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy
Contemporary Cuba
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
Contemporary Cuba
Edited by John M. Kirk
Afro-Cuban Voices: On Race and Identity in Contemporary Cuba, by Pedro Pérez-Sarduy
and Jean Stubbs (2000)
Cuba, the United States, and the Helms-Burton Doctrine: International Reactions, by
Joaquín Roy (2000)
Cuba Today and Tomorrow: Reinventing Socialism, by Max Azicri (2000); first paperback
edition, 2001
Cuba’s Foreign Relations in a Post-Soviet World, by H. Michael Erisman (2000); first
paperback edition, 2002
Cuba’s Sugar Industry, by José Alvarez and Lázaro Peña Castellanos (2001)
Culture and the Cuban Revolution: Conversations in Havana, by John M. Kirk and Leon-
ardo Padura Fuentes (2001)
Looking at Cuba: Essays on Culture and Civil Society, by Rafael Hernández, translated by
Dick Cluster (2003)
Santería Healing: A Journey into the Afro-Cuban World of Divinities, Spirits, and Sorcery,
by Johan Wedel (2004)
Cuba’s Agricultural Sector, by José Alvarez (2004)
Cuban Socialism in a New Century: Adversity, Survival and Renewal, edited by Max Azicri
and Elsie Deal (2004)
Cuba, the United States, and the Post–Cold War World: The International Dimensions of
the Washington-Havana Relationship, edited by Morris Morley and Chris McGillion
(2005)
Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy: The Impact of the “Special Period,” edited by H. Michael
Erisman and John M. Kirk (2006)
Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy
The Impact of the “Special Period”
Edited by
H. Michael Erisman and John M. Kirk
•
University Press of Florida
Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton
Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers/Sarasota
Copyright 2006 by H. Michael Erisman and John M. Kirk
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved
A record of cataloging-in-publication data is available from
the Library of Congress.
isbn 978-0-8130-2937-5 (cloth)
isbn 978-0-8130-3629-8 (eBook)
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency
for the State University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M
University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast Univer-
sity, Florida International University, Florida State University, New
College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida,
University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and Univer-
sity of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611–2079
http://www.upf.com
Contents
List of Tables vii
Introduction
1. Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Survival Strategy in Cuba’s New
Foreign Policy 1
H. Michael Erisman
Background
2. Political Change in Cuba: The Domestic Context for Foreign Policy 23
Antoni Kapcia
3. Cuban Foreign Policy during the “Special Period”: Interests, Aims,
Outcomes 49
Carlos Alzugaray Treto
4. Redefining Cuba’s International Economic Interests 72
Jorge Mario Sánchez-Egozcue
Multilateral Relations
5. Cuba and the European Union: Chronicle of a Dead Agreement
Foretold 98
Joaquín Roy
6. Caribbean Convergence: Contemporary Cuba-CARICOM
Relations 121
John Walton Cotman
7. An Asset Not Fully Exploited or Not Fully Exploitable? Reflections on
Cuba’s Relations with Latin America and Its Institutions 150
Hal Klepak
8. Cuba’s Challenges and Opportunities outside the Free Trade Area of the
Americas 170
Carlos Oliva Campos and Gary Prevost
Bilateral Relations
9. Cuba, Canada, and Constructive Engagement: A Decade of Bilateral
Relations 191
John M. Kirk and Peter McKenna
10. Gorbachev’s Legacy for Russian-Cuban Relations in the 1990s 212
Mervyn J. Bain
11. Spanish-Cuban Relations, 1990–2003 233
Christopher Paetzold
12. Mexican-Cuban Relations: Between Interests and Principles 260
Georgina Sánchez
Cuban-U.S. Relations
13. Overcoming Asymmetry: Is a Normal U.S.-Cuban Relationship
Possible? 280
Philip Brenner
14. Cuban-U.S. Relations, 1989–2002: A View from Havana 305
Soraya M. Castro Mariño
Conclusion
15. Defying the Odds: Five Conclusions about Cuban Foreign Policy 333
John M. Kirk
List of Contributors 345
Index 349
Tables
1.1 Cuba’s GDP per Capita Index 3
1.2 Cuban GDP Growth Rates 3
1.3 Cuban Export Profile 4
1.4 Cuban Import Profile 5
1.5 Reported Direct Foreign Investment in the Republic of Cuba 7
1.6 Estimated Net U.S. Tourism Revenues 17
4.1 Cuba and the Caribbean Basin, Divergent Market Orientation 93
4.2 Cuba, Volatility of Commerce 93
4.3 Cuba, Revealed Comparative Advantage 94
4.4 Cuba, Exports Profile: Dynamic and Composition 94
4.5 Cuba, Foreign Trade, Recomposition of Exports 95
6.1 CARICOM and Cuba Visitor Arrivals, 2000 137
6.2 Cuba/CARICOM Foreign Trade, 2000 139
8.1 Commercial Relations of Cuba with Latin American and Caribbean
Countries 175
8.2 Sales of American Products to Cuba 175
8.3 Tourist Arrivals in the Caribbean in 2000 186

1
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Survival Strategy in Cuba’s New Foreign Policy
H. Michael Erisman
Overview
If one compares Cuba’s foreign policy of today with that of 5, 10, or 15 years ago,
there are enormous differences to note. Cuba watchers can indeed be excused
for scratching their heads in amazement at some of the extraordinary changes
that have taken place. Chief among these, of course, is the fact that the Cuban
Revolution is still afloat—albeit in occasionally stormy seas. With the demise of
the Soviet Union 15 years ago many pundits rushed to predict the beginning of
the end of the Cuban Revolution—and have been made to look foolish.
The Cuban Revolution has managed to survive, in no small measure be-
cause of the imagination shown in redefining its foreign relations. The result-
ing changes have been unusual, to say the least. For example, the helter-skelter
of Cuban-Russian ties has now settled into a calm, trade-based working rela-
tionship. The revolutionary government has also made vast inroads into Latin
America, where a new generation of nationalist left-of-center governments,
increasingly suspicious of U.S. intentions in the region, has emerged. On the
other side of the coin the European Union—which a decade ago was preparing
to take the U.S. government before the World Trade Organization because of
its extraterritorial policy on Cuba—has become increasingly critical of Cuba’s
human rights policy.
But perhaps nothing symbolizes better the ever-changing kaleidoscope of
Cuba’s international relationships than the bizarre U.S.-Cuban scenario. George
W. Bush and most of the Democrats who were seeking his position (including
John Kerry, the ultimate 2004 Democratic candidate) remain in favor of a hard-
line approach to Cuba. On the other hand, both chambers of Congress voted
in 2003 to improve relations with Cuba, allowing U.S. citizens to travel to the
island. And the business lobby, less encumbered with the need to win electoral